Sometimes it's OK to be a racist.

I like UV Race. I like them quite a lot. They have been busy of late- their debut album is due out soon, they got profiled in hipster rag Vice ( a publication I would never wish to appear in) and have a very busy weekend lined up.

On Saturday they are supporting the Late Arvo Sons on the first of their April Tote residency shows. Future supports for the Sons will be Flying Scissor Kicks on the 11th, Chinese Burns (18th) and Super Wild Horses on the fourth and final show on the 25th, by the way.


The Race are then part of the bill at the afore-mentioned Super Wild Horses own single launch, at the Lithuanian Club, along with the Twerps and Noah & the Arks, as well as "Eddy Current DJs", which I'm guessing is basically Mikey Young with some records- good ones.
They are also doing a private party gig later that night. Fuck these kids have stamina.

Better late than never.

Being the sensitive and caring kind of guy I am, I was thinking about International Women's Day this weekend just past, when I realised that the Melbourne music scene are celebrating a week late.
Yes, ladies, the most handsome men in town are playing for your pleasure this weekend.
On Friday 13th, at Ding Dong, Rowland S. Howard plays with the Stabs and Nathan Hollywood*

Rowland's band for this show includes J.P. Shilo on bass and Mick Harvey on drums. This is definitely worth a look. $12 on the door.
Then, on Saturday at the Espy, there's an Aarght! Records showcase of sorts, featuring New Orleans duo Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and UV Race. I do not know why there is no poster art for this event- here's a picture of Quintron instead:

* nb- Hollywood is actually quite handsome, so I'm told.

A weekend and a half

Well, that was a weekend and a half. 15 goddam bands in 2 days. Late nights, a few beers, and a lot of fun.
There are some pics and words of the Visitors here  if you need background - for all the reformation/reissue angle,  there was not one minute of their set that felt gratuitous or nostalgic.  Maybe it's because they have been dormant for so long, but they brought real freshness to a solid set, which took in about everything I could have hoped for:

Despite ripping off/paying homage to his "Minister of Defence" tag for my "Minister of Offence" role with GOD many years ago, I've never seen Mark Sisto perform before. He was excellent- in great voice, punchy, sly and very funny too. Pip Hoyle and Deniz Tek didn't disappoint the Birdman tragics in the crowd either, though having said that I'd reckon that you could enjoy these guys for the class act they are, without any knowledge or experience of their past activities. CD details are here if you are interested.
It was a bit of a struggle getting my arse into Flip Out for the 3.00pm kick-off the next day, but I made it and I'm glad. In the past festivals have been a bit "meh" for me- they all seem to go on too long, have too much dead time, may involve standing round in a field, or a combination of all three. This thing really hit the spot though. Highlights were the Pink Fits bruising, high-energy set, the return of the Stabs, US legend MOTO's deranged guitar riffery/perversion and ECSR's killer closing set. There were old friends and new friends, there was "Creature From The Black Lagoon" on the big screen, there was beer, there was the promised free CD- all good. 

Halloween and onwards

So I write this sitting in the deepening twilight, with a bag of chocolate frogs and some glow in the dark M & Ms at the ready, listening to Kopper's special Halloween Savage Kick podcast

but none of the neighbourhood kids seem keen.

Anyway, there is lots coming up.
Friday at the Espy sees the Lime Spiders headline a massive bill of local and interstate acts- the sort of bill you usually only see on New Year's Eve, and for only $15.00

On Saturday the Bakelite Age are launching their (excellent) new album, "Return Of The Magical Molerat" at the Tote.

While on Monday, Route 66 are holding Wolfcall 2007 over at the Central Club in Richmond


AND FINALLY on Tuesday (officially known as "Horse Day" here in Melbourne)Wagons are showing off their newie, "Curse Of Lightning", over at the Northcote Social Club.


phew!

Gimme Primitive and stuff

This weekend sees the return of Gimme Shelter to the Exford, as well as a special birthday- hi Myles!

While the final Primitive for 2007 is on at the Tote next week, featuring Wollongong's the Unheard, Melbourne's favorite young punks Witch Hats, and a teenage combo from Geelong, the Frowning Clouds.
I may not make it, but I hear a rumour that the people behind Gimme Shelter and Primitive crew are planning to be back early next year, and hope to kick off with a bay boat cruise. Oh yeah.

In other news this week, it's been reported and confirmed that the freehold of the Tote has been sold for a sum in the region of $3.2 million. The current lease has two more years to run, so there should be no immediate changes.

I wrote a small piece on Gonerfest for the I94 Bar about a month back: it's here if you want a look- probably worth it for some of Rich Stanley's comments alone.
Well, the party is over but there is a bunch of live sound up, including all three Australian acts. Here's some ECSR , Digger & the Pussycats and Ooga Boogas tunes, and a taste of some of the shit hot US stuff that was on offer, like Greg Cartwright and the Final Solutions , who feature Jay Reatard in their number, as well as Jay solo.
Have a listen, go here for more.

Thanks to Jack Stands for all this, and to Eric for being such a nice fella.

This weekend- Little Red etc.

Every so often someone comes along that I have to see for myself. Eddy Current Suppression Ring were one who lived up to the buzz, now it's Little Red. Their month long Wednesday night residency at the Tote has lead people whose opinions I trust to make some extraordinary statements,like this. So I'll be at the Espy on Friday, when they play the Gershwin Room for free, with Even and the Summer Cats. Their myspace songs sound OK, be interesting to see how they cut it live.

On Saturday afternoon I hope to head over to Steve Miller's new bar, the House of Refreshment, at the Abbotsford Convent.

Steve says "You won't find eggs, 'cooked to your liking', skinny lattes, wraps, low fat muffins or light beer. It's S for Salt, F for Fat, S for Sugar, C for Caffeine and A for Alcohol". That'll do.

And no movies this week.

Couple of interesting things on

The monthly Primitive night at Exile on Smith Street sounds entertaining to say the least:
The Straight Arrows, from that other city, play their first gig in Melbourne. These garage punk chumps sound like your favourite band if you had good taste. A frenzied mess of feedback, fuzz, and screams that will leave you feeling woozy and aurally fingered. Comprised by members from Holy Soul and KIOSK, these guys are so not right that they’re right…right?
The Ooga Boogas defy a simple description. Think an unholy mess of experimental surf jams crossed with downright stupid riffs, spazzy Beefheart-esque mong rock, and spaceage drone wigouts. This ensemble features members from The Sailors, The Onyas, and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Watch them shit their pants at their very first gig. Now that’s entertorment!


And Adelaide's King Daddy are in town, launching a single, to be followed very soon by an album, "Evil Love" both on Spooky Records
May 18 at the Old Bar , with the Exotics and Dead South, then on to Pony for a 2am show, and May 19 at The Greyhound with Brigitte Handly & The Dark Shadows (Syd) who are also launching a CD.
Take your hips for shaking and your teeth for breaking!

If you prefer a movie, try this:

One of a handful of bands to genuinely push the punk/post-punk template, The Gun Club was fronted by legendary vocalist Jeffrey Lee Pierce and included such luminaries as Kid Congo Powers, Patricia Morrison, Romi Mori and Terry Graham in their fluid line up. Producing seriously muscular albums like "Miami" and "The Fire of Love", and classic tunes such as "Sex Beat" and "She's Like Heroin To Me", Ghost on the Highway recounts both Pierce's story and the band's 17 year history.
Last chance to see it (for the foreseeable future, anyway) is at ACMI in Federation Square on Saturday.
I'm a bit let down that it doesn't seem to include any contribution from LA punk legend and Flesheaters mainman Chris D, who produced and released "Fire of Love", but will probably go along anyway.

Another big week.

I've mentioned the return of X this week, at Ding Dong, in a previous post.
Cherry Rock 007 is on in AC/DC Lane on Sunday, but if you want to avoid the crowds and are happy to see only see a few of the acts, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and the Pink Fits are at the Espy on Friday night, for free.

Phew.

Still recovering from last week's pig out, and think I'll be having a quiet one this weekend.
For the record- the Double Agents launch was great, Spencer Jones solo was great, Sixfthick were fucking explosive. A weekend of sweat, heat, beer & loud gritty music. I didn't get down to the Tiger By The Tail video shoot though- if you have a strong stomach there is a snapshot of proceedings here.
This weekend's details are in honour of and for the benefit of the mysterious G, author of the excellent blog Sex Kittens Compare Scratches , who is in town for a few days.


At the Espy Front Bar in St. Kilda tonight- Mach Pelican, The Havenots (Japan), The Gingers, Three Chord Disasters.

But they are up against the "Beasts VS. Drones" show at the Tote in Collingwood. This sounds a bit goddamn special, frankly- "Two of Australia's toughest and dirtiest rock bands attempt to out-cool each other in a rare solo challenge at The Tote, Fri 23rd of February with a special umpire in judicial mode. The night will feature solo sets from the old guards of oz rock: Spencer P Jones & Brian Hooper of The Beast of Bourbon, competing for street cred and raw sex appeal with the new wave: Gareth Liddiard, front person of the Drones, and Christian Strybosch, original Drones drummer. The totally impartial umpire in this death match, who will also grace the stage to break up the general machismo and any spontaneous punching-on, will be the gorgeous and delightful Laura Jean, making this a night of intimate performance from the cream of Melbourne's artistic crop. To enhance your listening pleasure, the normally sweaty Tote will be transformed into a sophisticated club atmosphere, with lounges, tables and candlelight, and all acts performing live in the pit. All that for only $12.00? Bargain.

There are rich pickings on Saturday too. Spencer P. Jones is doing his solo thing again at the idGAFF Bar in the afternoon, which you can follow with ECSR at the Corner Hotel, or maybe Dollsquad over at the Evelyn.

On Sunday , the Prayer Babies are at the Greyhound with accompaniment from the South Of The River gospel choir, from 5.00pm or so. Perfect end to the day.

For stubby holders, silly hats, fridge magnets etc, you're on your own, but they are all easily found in Swanston Street, just up from Chloe's Bar. Enjoy your stay, Greg.

Need something to do?

Them Gingers are in the Espy Front Bar tonight (Friday 19th) supporting Sydney's Goons Of Doom.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring and a bunch of other bands are playing a benefit in Richmond from 3.00pm on Saturday- this place will be packed, I guarantee you.

If you can't get in, try The Tote which will probably be full too, as the Bakelite Age are launching their new 8-track EP (on Bang! Records, 12" vinyl will be for sale on the night) with supports including Gareth Lyddiard from the Drones playing solo. Or, as the Drones put it- "sex symbol gareth will be supporting sex symbols the bakelite age at the tote on saturday 20th of january. go there." Can't argue with that, really.